Lasting machines



Nov. 24, 1964 J. D. MoRRlLL LASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 Inventor John 2Mo/"Pill gy hi@ zofneg Nov. 24, 1964 J. D. MoRRlLl.

LASTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheerl 2 Filed June 2.5, 1962 Nov. 24, 1964 J. D. MoRRlLL LASTING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 24, 1964 J. D. MoRRlLL LAsTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1962 Nov. 24, 1964 J. D. MoRRlLL. 3,157,897

LASTING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,157,897 LASTENG MACHENES John D. Iterriil, Benford, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery torperation, Boston, Mass., a corporation et N ew Jersey Filed .lune 25, 1%62, Ser. No. @34,837 lil tlaims. (Qi. 12m-ldd) This invention relates to shoe lasting machines and more particularly is directed to an improved machine which combines the operations of pulling-over and lasting, such as in the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,022,527, granted February 27, 1962, in the name of A. W. Rockwell, Ir., et al. l

The machine disclosed in said patent is adapted to operate on a shoe upper loosely assembled on a last to tension the upper over the forepart of the last in what is commonly known as a pulling-over operation. Tension is applied to the upper by gripping and holding its margin while a shoe support moves the last heightwise against the upper. Thereafter, the upper is lasted by wipers which wipe the tensioned upper over the edges of the last bottom. The general performance of the machine shown in said patent has proven to be highly satisfactory. However, that portion of its operation attributable to the pulling-over function does not permit corrective adjustment of the upper before lasting. One of the more common faults which must be corrected before lasting of the shoe is completed involves lateral misalignment of the upper on the forepart ofthe last particularly where the upper has ornamentations. To correct this fault it is usually necessary to shift the upper bodily widthwise with respect to the forepart of the last. In the machine of the patent, as in other similar machines, the grippers tensioning the upper are not adjustable heightwise during machine operation so that in order to make such a correction, the machine must be returned to its initial open condition. This releases the upper from the grippers so that the operator can manually shift the upper in the open grippers.

Accordingly, -it is a general object of the invention toprovide an improved pulling and lasting machine having means to correct the position of an upper without opening the machine thereby greatly increasingits etiiciency. To this end the side grippers adapted to grip the upper at the opposite sides of the last are adjustable heightwise while retaining their hold on the upper. Yieldable positioning means act on the grippers to position them initially in normal positions adapted to receive the margin of the upper. Locking means are provided to iiX the positions of the grippers during the upper tensioning movement of the support. After the upper is tensioned the machine stops automatically so that the operator may view the disposition of the upper on the last to determine need for correction of its position. Each of the grippers is adjustable heightwise by manually actuatable means convenient to the operator. To permit gripper adjustment at this time, operator controlled means is provided to cause the locking means to release grippers lfor adjustment. After correcting the position of the upper over the last by adjustment of the grippers, the operator causes the locking means to iix the grippers in their adjusted positions.

According to one feature of the invention provision is made for releasing at least part of the tension on the 3,157,897 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 ice upper while the adjustment of the grippers bodily shifts the position of the upper. During the intial tensioning of the upper, the support is moved heightwise to a predetermined position where the last bottom is at or near the plane of operation of the wipers. Operation of the operator controlled means in addition to causing the grippers to be unlocked for movement also causes the support to be retracted to relieve the tension. It is important, however, that the upper tension is not relieved completely to avoid having the upper so loose on the last as to render its position indefinite. To limit the tension release, a normally inoperative stop is automatially interposed in the path of the retracting movement of the support on actuation of the operator controlled means. 'y

The above and other features of the invention including novel details of construction and arrangement of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FlG. l is a perspective view of a pulling over and forepart lasting machine embodying the present invention; v

FlG. 2 is a vertical section taken on a plane extending fore and aft of the machine and indicating the principal operating instrumentalities;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the machine showing the positions of various elements during the pulling-over portion of the machine cycle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the position of Various elements after adjustment of the upper position; l

PIG. 5 is a section substantially on line V-V of FIG. 3; l v

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the gripper adjusting mechanism seen in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7.is a section through one of the gripper units on line VII-VII of FIG. 5. i

The invention is embodied in a machine for pulling andlasting shoes such as that shown in the above noted patent. As illustrated in the present drawings and in said patent, the machine is provided with a vertically movable shoe rest iti-Which acts initialy to position heightwise the forepart of a last L having an upper U and an insole I loosely assembled thereon. A pair of gripper units 22 are arranged to grip the upper at opposite sides of the forepart of the last so that heightwise movement of the support relative to the grippers acts to tension the upper over the last. A pair of wipers 24 are arranged to wipe the tensioned upper inwardly over the edge of the insole assembled on the last after the support has moved to its uppermost position. To maintain the last and upper in position during the wiping operaiton, a toe pad 26 and a heel embracing flexible band 23 are provided.

Each gripper unit 27. includes an upper jaw 30 (FIGS. 3 and 7) formed on a member 32. which also pivotally carries a lower jaw 3d. The lower end of the jaW 34E is provided with a roll 36 arranged to be engaged by a jaw closing cam member 38 formed on the upper end of a piston rod 40 slidably mounted in the member 32 which also forms an end cap for a cylinder 4i. The lower end of the rod is connected to a piston 42 movable in the cylinder 4l against the resistance of a return spring t.

A plug 48 forming the bottom of the cylinder 41 is suitably bored to form an inlet 50 to the cylinder from a pipe 52. The cylinder 41 is mounted for heightwise sliding movements in a sleeve 54 with a spring 56 under the plug 48 urging the cylinder upwardly. The lower end of the sleeve 5ft is Xed to the upper portion 5S of a universal joint unit secured to a portion of a bracket 62 so that the gripper unit 22 may swing bodily on the universal joint in directions lengthwise, as well as, widthwise of a shoe in the machine.

Each gripper unit 22 is adjustable widthwise to accommodate various sizes and shapes of shoes. To this end the lower end of each sleeve 54 is provided with a slotted arm 64 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which receives the upper necked end of a rod 66 carried for heightwise adjustment in a bore in the bracket 62. Each rod 66 is adjustable heightwise to vary the widthwise position of the gripper unit 22 to suit the shoe to be operated upon and for this purpose each rod is slotted to receive wedges 68 and 69. The wedges 69 for both gripper units are adjustable in unison by a pair of manually adjustable slotted arms 71 which are interconnected by a bar 73 (FIG. 2). Both gripper units are held outwardly so the upper ends of the slots in the rods 66 are engaged with the wedges 69 by springs 75 (FIG. 3). The lower wedges 68 are individually adjustable by rotation of threaded rods 77 having knobs 70. These wedges 68 are generally adjusted to provide some clearance with the lower end of the slots in the rods 66 to permit limited inward yielding movements of the gripper units.

Each gripper unit 22 is also movable lengthwise and to this end the lower end of each sleeve 54 is also provided with another arm 72 (see also FIG. 2) which is connected by a link 74 to one arrn 76 of a multi-arm lever 73 pivoted on the bracket 62. Another arm (not shown) identical with the arm 76 is connected to the corresponding mechanism of the other gripper unit 22 at the opposite side of the machine. A further arm (not shown) of the multi-arm lever 7S is movable (by mechanism not shown) to adjust the initial lengthwise position of the gripper units as well as to move the units toewardly after they are gripped on the upper to 'impart a forward draft thereto for the purposes discussed in said patent,

Thus it should be apparent from the foregoing description that admission of fluid (in this case air) under pressure to the cylinder 41 from the pipe 52, raises the piston 42 and rod 40 to cause the lower jaw 34 to close and grip the upper against the upper jaw 30 as seen in FIG. 3. The support 20 is thereafter raised moving the last up against the upper to tension the upper over the last. To this end the support 20 is mounted on the upper end of a post 80 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is slidably mounted for heightwise movement in a bore 82 in the bracket 62. The lower end of the post 80 is secured to a piston 84 movable upwardly in a cylinder S6 against the action of a return spring 38. The cylinder is secured to a plate which forms the upper end of the cylinder and is carried by a portion of the bracket 62. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by a plate 92 through which air is communicated from a pipe 94. Admission of air to the cylinder 86 causes the post 80 and shoe support 20 to rise to a. position determined by engagement of an adjustable stop nut 96 on the post with a portion of the bracket 62. Thus, the shoe is raised to a predetermined position in which the bottom of the insole I on the last is in the same plane as the upper surface of the forepart wipers 24.

While the support 20 is moved heightwise to the position seen in FIG. 3 the gripper units 22 are held against heightwise movement so that the upper is tensioned about the last. For holding the gripper units, the cylinders 41 are connected by adjustable links 97 (FIGS. 3 and 4) to the inner ends of two levers 160, the links being each pivotally secured to the associated cylinder by a bolt 93 which passes through slots in the sleeve S4 and through the cylinder walls and plug 48. Each lever 100 is pivoted on a bolt 162 carried by a bracket 104 secured to a post 106 by which the bracket 62 is secured to the framework of the machine. The outer end of each lever 100 is pivoted to the lower end of a bar 108 which passes upwardly through a locking device 110. Each locking device includes two pairs of horizontal chain type links 112 and 114 connected by vertical links 116, the links carrying rolls 118 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which straddle the hars 106. Gne end of each link 112, as best seen in FIG. 3, is pivotally secured by a pin 120 to the bracket 104 while the roll 11% in the links 114 is received in a slotted arm of a bell crank lever 122 fulcrumed on the bracket. The other arm of the bell crank is arranged to be engaged by the end of a piston rod 126 extending from an air cylinder 128. The ends of the links 112 opposite the pins 120 are urged heightwise by a pair of springs 130 to a position determined by a stop screw 132 engaging the adjacent roll 11S. In this position the links 112 are disposed substantially normal to the bars 108 so the bars easily slide between the rolls 118. Each bell crank 122 is normally urged by a spring 134 to a position which causes the links 114 also to be disposed normal to the bar 10S so the bar easily slides through the rolls carried by this link. However, when air is admitted to the cylinders 128 from pipes 136, the piston rods 126 swing the upstanding arm of the bell cranks outwardly to move one end of the links 114 down so that the rolls 118 carried thereby are cramped against the bar 103. Movement of the links 114 also acts to swing the links 112 down cramping its rolls against the bars. In this manner each bar 108 and lever 100 are locked against movement to fix the heightwise position of the associated gripper unit 22. Prior to the operation of the machine there is no air pressure acting on the cylinders 123 so the locking devices 110 do not lock the positons of the gripper units. At this time the springs S6 (FIG. 7) in the sleeve 54 maintain the cylinders 41 and gripper jaws 30, 34 in heightwise positions determined by adjustable studs 138 which limit the heightwise swinging movements of the levers 100. Each stud 138 is carried in a lug 140 extending from the bracket 104 and is urged down by a spring 142 to a position limited by lock nuts on the stud engaging the upper surface of the lug 140. Thus each stud is capable of independent heightwise movement against the action of the associated springs 142 for a purpose which will presently appear.

So that an operator may manually adjust the gripper units 22 each individually heightwise to slide the upper widthwise of the last for correcting its position each lever 10i) is provided with a ball shaped stud 144 (FIG. 6) which is received in a forked end M6 of a lever 1118 pivoted on the bracket 104. The lever is provided with a handle which extends upwardly within the reach of the operator as seen in FIG. l. By moving either handle down the operator may swing the lever 100 connected to one of the gripper cylinders down so as to impart an additional pull to the upper on that side of the last. Correspondingly upward movement of either handle 150 acts to raise the gripper unit associated therewith to raise the upper on that side. During such upward movement, the associated stud 138 is caused to yield against the action of its spring 142 as best seen at the left in FIG. 4.

After positioning the last in the machine, the operator inserts the margin of the upper between the jaws 39, 34 of the side gripper units 22 at opposite sides of the last, and then initiates operation of the machine. At this time air is admitted to the cylinders 41 and 128 to close the jaws 30, 34 on the upper and also to cause the locking devices 110 to the gripper units against heightwise movement. Thereafter, air is admitted to the cylinder 86 to raise the support 20 and the last carried thereby until the nut 96 on the post 30 engages the bracket 62. During this movement of the last the gripper units 22 hold the margins 0f the upper so that the upper is tensioned over the last. The machine then comes to rest and the operator may observe the disposition of the upper on the last to determine need for correction of its position. If the upper is badly off-center on the last, the operator may return the machine to its initial Open condition dropping the support 2t) and releasing the grippers from the upper. The operator may then move the upper in the grippers for proper alignment on the last. However, as is usually the case, the upper may be only slighly oli-center especially in the throat area at the cone of the last. As previously described, the heightwise positions of the grippers are fixed when air is admitted to the cylinders 123 to cause` the locking devices llt) to lock the position of the bars 106. Thus, the heightwise positions of the gripper'units cannot be corrected at this time by manipulation of the handles 156. Accordingly, pro- Vision is made to unlock the devices llt? so that the position of the upper may be corrected by manipulation of the handles to depress one gripper unit and if the grippers are somewhat below the level of the wiper Z4 to raise the other gripper unit. To this end a valve le() (FlG. l) is adapted to be operated by a lever 162 having a pad idd engageable by an operators knee permitting his hands to be free for manipulation of the handies iSil. Normally, air under pressure passes freely from a source (not shown) through the valve le@ to the cylinders HS to actuate the locking devices litt) to X the positions of both gripper units 22. However, actuation of the lever 162 by the operator causes the valve lo@ to direct air to a cylinder 166 and to exhaust air from the cylinders 123 and 36. Exhausting air from cylinders M8 and 8d unlocks the gripper for heightwise adjustment and causes the support Zt) to drop to a limited extent. Admission of air to the cylinder 1&6 causes a piston rod ldd projecting from the cylinder to swing a stop lever 17@ rearwardly against the action of a spring l' toward the support post titl and under a nut 172 threaded on the post. The lever 170 is pivoted onthe plate 9i) by a shoulder screw 174 and has an enlarged'portion 176 engageable with the under surface of the nut to limit the drop of the support 2t) to the extent necessary to reduce the tension on the upper sutliciently to permit its adjustment.

Thus, actuation of the knee lever 162 releases the gripper units for adjustment and drops the support 2b to reduce tension on the upper to an extent determined by engagement of the nut i172 with the stop lever 17). At this time the operator can easily shift t1 e position of the upper on the last by manipulation of the two handles 50. As soon as the operator is satisfied that the upper is properly centered, he releases the knee lever 162. The valve 16? then redirects air pressure to the cylinders lZ and S6, once again locking the bars lila to fix the adjusted heightwise positions of the gripper units and again raising the support 20 retensioning the upper and by exhausting the cylinder ldd returns the stop lever 174i to its inoperative position.

Having thus corrected the position of the upper on the last, the operator causes the machine to complete its operation by depressing a treadle in the manner fully described in the above-mentioned patent. This causes air to be admitted to a cylinder 180 (FIG. 2) moving the toe pad 26 down to clamp the upper on the forepart of the last and subsequently to apply la bedding pressure. Air is thereafter admitted to a cylinder 190 which causes the wipers 24 to close against and wipe the tensioned upper inwardly over the edge of the insole on the bottom of the last. In the proper sequence, as fully described in said patent, air is exhausted from the cylinder 4l opening the gripper jaws St), 34tto releasethe upper to the action of the wipers. Air is also exhausted from the cylinder 86 permitting the support 2d to drop so that the shoe is supported only on the wipers. Thereafter, the air pressure in the cylinder 1%@ is increased to cause the pad 26 to apply a bedding pressure to the overlasted upper.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as d new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent movement heightwise relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, locking means operable to fix each gripper against .heightwise movement, means for moving the support heightwise to move the last against the upper held by the grippers while iixed by said locking means thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, operator controlled means for retracting the support t0 relieve the tension on the upper and for causing the locking devices to release the grippers forheightwise movement, and means for adjusting the grippers independently heightwise while the upper is gripped for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause the locking means to x the grippers in adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tensioning position.

2. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent movement heightwise relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of thev last, locking means operable to ix each gripper against heightwise movement, means for moving the support heightwise to move the last against the upper held by the grippers while fixed by said locking means 'thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, operator controlled means for retracting the support a predetermined distance for reducing the tension on the upper and for causing the locking means to release `the grippers for heightwise movement, and means for adjusting the grippers independently heightwise while the upper is gripped and under reduced tension for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause the locking means to tix the grippers in adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tensioning position.

3. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent movement heightwise relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, locking means 'operable to tix each gripper against heightwise movement, means for moving the support heightwise to move the last against the upper held by the grippers while iixed by said locking means thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, a normally inoperative stop for limiting movement of the support in retracting the last away from the upper, operator controlled means for operating said stop and for causing the support to be retracted an amount limited by said stop to reduce the tension on the upper, said operator controlled means simultaneously being effective to cause the locking means to release said grippers permitting the grippers to be moved heightwise while the upper is gripped for bodily adjusting the upperwidthwise of the last, said operator controlled means thereafter also being effective to cause said locking means to tix said grippers against movement from adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tensioning position.

' 4. `In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last,` a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of members each connected individually to `one of said grippers for following its movement, locking devices operable to iX the members against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwise to move the last against the upper held by the grippers while the members associated therewith are fixed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, operator controlled means for causing the locking devices -to release said members permitting the grippers to be adjusted heightwise while the upper is gripped for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause said locking devices to fix said members against movement for fixing the adjusted positions of the grippers.

5. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of bars each connected individually -by a lever to one of said grippers for following its movement, locking devices operable to fix the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwise to move the last against the upper held by the grippers while the bars associated therewith are fixed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, operator controlled means for causing the locking devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be adjusted heightwise while the upper is gripped, manually operated means acting on each lever for adjusting its associated gripper heightwise for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause said locking devices to x said bars for fixing the adjusted positions of the grippers.

6. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, gripper-s mounted for independent movement heightwise relative to said support and adapted -to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last each gripper having individually associated therewith a lever connected to said gripper, a bar also connected to said lever to follow the movement of the associated gripper, locking devices operable to fix the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of the grippers, manually operated means acting on each lever for adjusting cach gripper individually heightwise, means acting on each lever for yieldably positioning the associated gripper in upper receiving position, means for moving the support heightwise for moving the last against the upper held by the grippers while `the bars associated therewith are fixed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, operator controlled means for retracting the support to relieve the tension on the upper and for causing the locking devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be adjusted heightwise by said manually operated means from said receiving positions for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause said locking devices to fix said bars against movement from adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its tensioning position.

7. ln a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a iast, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of bars each connected individually by a lever to one of said grippers for following its movement, means acting on each lever for yieldably positioning the associated gripper in upper receiving position, locking devices operable to x the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwise for moving the last against the upper held by the grippers while the bars associated therewith are fixed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned overl the last, operator controlled means for causing the locklng devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be moved heightvvise, manually operated means acting on each lever for` adjusting its associated gripper 8 heightwise against the action of said yieldable positioning means for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means also being effective at the will of the operator to cause said locking devices to fix said bars against movement thereby fixing the grippers in adjusted position.

8. ln a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of bars each connected individually to one of said grippers for following its movement, locking devices operable to fix the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwise for moving the last against the upper held by the grippers while the bars associated therewith are xed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, a normally inoperative stop for limiting movement of the support in retracting the last away from the upper, operator controlled means for operating said stop and for causing the support to be retracted an amount limited by said stop to reduce the tension on the upper, said operator controlled means simultaneously being effective to cause the loclring devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be moved heightwise while the upper is gripped for bodily adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means thereafter also being effective to cause said locking devices to fix said bars and grippers against movement from adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tensioning position.

9. in a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of bars each connected individually by a lever to one of said grippers for following its movement, locking devices operable to fix the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwise for moving the last against the upper held by the grippers while the bars associated therewith are fixed by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, a normally inoperative stop for limiting movement of the support retracting the last away from the upper, operator controlled means for operating said stop and for causing the support to be retracted an amount limited by said stop to reduce the tension on the upper, said operator controlled means simultaneously being eective to cause the locking devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be moved heightwise while the upper is gripped, and manually operated means acting on each lever for adjusting its associated gripper heightwise for bodiiy adjusting the upper widthwise of the last, said operator controlled means thereafter also being effective to cause said locking devices to fix said bars and grippers against movement from adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tensioning position.

l0. In a machine for lasting a shoe upper assembled on a last, a support for the last, grippers mounted for independent heightwise movement relative to said support and adapted to grip the margin of the upper at opposite sides of the last, a plurality of bars each connected individually by a lever to one of said grippers for following its movement, means acting on each lever for yieldably positioning the associated gripper in upper receiving position, locking devices operable to fix the bars against movement thereby also fixing the positions of said grippers, means for moving the support heightwse for moving the last against the upper held by the grippers while the bars associated therewith are fired by said locking devices thereby causing the upper to be tensioned over the last, a normally inoperative stop for limiting 9 movement of the support retracting the last away from the upper, operator controlled means for operating said stop and for causing the support to be retracted an amount limited by said stop to reduce the tension on the upper, said operator controlled means simultaneously being effective to cause the locking devices to release said bars permitting the grippers to be moved heightwise While the upper is gripped, and manually operated means acting on each lever for adjusting its associated gripper heightwise against the action of said yieldable positioning means for bodily adjusting the upper Widthwise of the 1@ last, said operator controlled means thereafter also being effective to cause said locking devices to x said bars and grippers against movement from adjusted position and to cause the support to be returned to its upper tension- 5 ing position.

References Cited n the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lo 355,786 Paine et al. Ian. 11, 1887 3,022,527 Rockwell et al. Feb. 27, 1962 3,025,541 Weinschenk Mar. 20, 1962 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR LASTING A SHOE UPPER ASSEMBLED ON A LAST, A SUPPORT FOR THE LAST, GRIPPERS MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT HEIGHTWISE RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT AND ADAPTED TO GRIP THE MARGIN OF THE UPPER AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LAST, LOCKING MEANS OPERABLE TO FIX EACH GRIPPER AGAINST HEIGHTWISE MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR MOVING THE SUPPORT HEIGHTWISE TO MOVE THE LAST AGAINST THE UPPER HELD BY THE GRIPPERS WHILE FIXED BY SAID LOCKING MEANS THEREBY CAUSING THE UPPER TO BE TENSIONED OVER THE LAST, OPERATOR CONTROLLED MEANS FOR RETRACTING THE SUPPORT TO RELIEVE THE TENSION ON THE UPPER AND FOR CAUSING THE LOCKING DEVICES TO RELEASE THE GRIPPERS FOR HEIGHTWISE MOVEMENT, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE GRIPPERS INDEPENDENTLY HEIGHTWISE WHILE THE UPPER IS GRIPPED FOR BODILY ADJUSTING THE UPPER WIDTHWISE OF THE LAST, SAID CONTROLLED MEANS ALSO BEING EFFECTIVE AT THE WILL OF THE OPERATOR TO CAUSE THE LOCKING MEANS FIX THE GRIPPERS IN ADJUSTED POSITION AND TO CAUSE THE SUPPORT TO BE RETURNED TO ITS UPPER TENSIONING POSITION. 